The Big Half 2024
50+ GoodGymers take on the Big Half
September 05, 2024
The Big Half is quickly becoming a GoodGym tradition. Could it be the fun festival feeling? Beginning your 13.1 mile journey crossing the iconic London Bridge? Or maybe it's the "come on GoodGym!" right when you need it most.
“This was my 5th Big Half and I just love it! It has the London feel, the love, the support, the big start and the big finish with a Tower Bridge and a Cutty Sark thrown in for good measure. If there’s one race I do every year it’s this one.” - Manjit Birk, GoodGym Slough
Race day events are for athletes of all shapes and sizes. The Big Half especially prides itself for being a fun and inclusive event for everyone, that’s why we love it. Conroy, from GoodGym Croydon says he goes every year. They give out a large number of community places, making it easier for organisations like GoodGym to attend in large numbers. GoodGym is not a competitive community, yet we have some incredible runners that love to push themselves. The Big Half lets us run the same race, chase our own goals, and celebrate each other's successes as a group - it’s a guaranteed good time and you’ll never be short of support if you're wearing a GoodGym t-shirt.
Preparation
“By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail” - Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin probably wasn’t thinking about the Big Half 2024 when he said that quote, but nothing prepares you to run like, well… running*. Many GoodGymers said their training plans continued to include GoodGym sessions throughout. As distances needed to increase, so did creativity.
*We’d also like to think Ben would have been GoodGym TaskForce and maybe a founding father to GoodGym America if it was an option back then.
Peter from GoodGym Nottingham said “balancing family life, GoodGym and running club duties makes training for big events a bit of a challenge. Running before work and to and from GoodGym meant I did a pretty good job of pulling a training plan together”. Manjit, mum of 3, took a similar approach, finding time early in the morning. Catherine made the most of her running buddies from GoodGym Bromley for company on the longer distances, as did Conroy with GoodGym Croydon. With so many GoodGymers running the same race it becomes much easier to sync up training plans.
It seems the trick to a good training plan you can stick to is to fit it in and around your everyday life and GoodGyming.
Race Day
“Amazing”, “fantastically supportive crowds” is how Peter described the day. Debuting his new GoodGym Run Team vest he got some direct shout outs from other GoodGymers along the way too.
“The best part of this event is seeing all the red t-shirts… the ‘come on GoodGym’ always leaves me with a smile on my face!” - Manjit, GoodGym Slough
GoodGymers were seeing success left, right and centre. Catherine knocked 8 minutes off her time from last year, Manjit felt comfortable throughout the race (this was only a training run for her attempt at the Berlin Marathon in a few weeks!), and Peter squeezed another year of joy from his running.
Thinking About Running?
“I would encourage everyone to sign up to this one! It’s one heck of an event (even with the tunnel of doom and the cobbles!)” - Manjit, GoodGym Slough
If you’re eager to get running, join us for a GoodGym session. No one is left behind and so you can feel comfortable going at your own pace (even if it's a walk) - plus we’ll never stray too far from home. Who knows where that first run might take you in a year or two? Catherine’s first half marathon was 12 months ago, and now she’s done 4!
If you’re on the fence about signing up for next year - go for it! GoodGym is lucky enough to get community tickets, you won’t find a better - or cheaper - opportunity to have such a big supportive group to help you smash that first race/PB.
Meet the GoodGymers
Peter
I signed up for The Big Half almost one year ago, well, the day after last year's event. We had been down in London for a school holiday weekend away and saw runners streaming over Tower Bridge. I fancied being one of them so, one trusty search engine consultation later my entry went in.
I’ve been running since the late 80’s and am active in the traditional club running scene (cross country, road races and relays, training nights etc.) for Heanor Running Club (I’m also club secretary). My GoodGym life is much more recent having first joined attending the Derby group in 2019 and am now part of the TaskForce (and a Run Leader) in the Nottingham group.
Catherine
I really enjoyed the training last year - me and some others from GoodGym Bromley did our long training runs together and we had some great chats, so I was looking forward to getting back into the routine.
This is my fourth half marathon. Last year’s big half was my first it was training for that which gave me the bug for longer distances. Since then, I’ve done the Royal Parks Half Marathon with colleagues and the Brighton Half with some GoodGym Bromley friends. I wanted to challenge myself this year to see if I could get a PB.
Manjit
This was my 5th Big Half and I just love it! As a mum of 3 young kids, getting the training in is the hardest part (especially over the summer holidays). Luckily I’m an early bird and used to going out at 5am to get my training in - or dragging the kids out with me for shorter runs.
This year though The Big Half is not my game A race. It is part of my training for the Berlin marathon in a few weeks time. Training paid off massively as I ran this race in comfort and with a course PB.
Conroy
Since the Big Half started I’ve always signed up. I’m a member of the GoodGym race team and pre-lockdown I was heavily involved with the XC circuit. I’ve been out of the XC for 3 seasons now but hoping to be back this year. I’ve done various distances up to a Marathon, I'm a regular park runner and dabble a bit in obstacle races. I'm hoping to do the Spartan trifecta (sprint, super and beast) in October.
Despite twigged my knee at a festival, I had talked a few members of GoodGym Croydon into doing the Big Half so I couldn’t let them down - they kept me motivated.
Celeb Spotting
Dharmesh managed to snap a smiley picture with Dame Kelly Holmes mid run - it's not everyday you're keeping up with an Olympian!
